Alberta RCMP arrested 51 people during a retail crime operation across six detachments, with more than half identified as repeat offenders.

The co-ordinated blitz involved Edmonton-Airdrie rural, St. Albert, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and Fort McMurray detachments working with the Retail Council of Canada, according to an RCMP news release. Officers also executed 11 outstanding arrest warrants.

Of the 51 arrests, 27 people — or 53 per cent — were repeat offenders, highlighting the role of habitual criminals in retail theft.

The operation revealed the extent of repeat offending, with some individuals accumulating dozens of convictions over decades. One 52-year-old Edmonton man arrested for stealing a power tool in St. Albert has faced retail crime charges eight times this year alone, with stolen goods valued at more than $11,000. His criminal record shows 48 convictions since 2006, including 27 theft-related offences.

A 43-year-old Wood Buffalo man arrested for stealing liquor has been charged eight times this year and twice in 2024 for robbing liquor stores. His record includes 176 convictions dating back to 1996.

Several cases involved violence against store security. A 41-year-old Red Deer man stole electronics and assaulted a loss prevention officer before being arrested with crystal meth and fentanyl. Another Red Deer resident with 32 convictions since 1997 was arrested after stealing tools and assaulting store security.

A 48-year-old Calgary woman was arrested after stealing more than $1,000 worth of clothing at an Airdrie mall. Police discovered her vehicle had stolen licence plates and she was supposed to be under house arrest.

Police issued a warrant for a 38-year-old Grande Prairie woman who stole items worth more than $7,500 in retail thefts this year. She has 40 convictions since 2006.

“Retailers across the province are seeing increased violence and huge costs related to shoplifting, which ultimately get passed on to law abiding citizens,” says Staff Sergeant Luke Halvorson of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch.

Rui Rodrigues of the Retail Council of Canada says retailers appreciate RCMP prioritizing retail crime and collaborating on enforcement projects targeting repeat offenders.

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